A before picture..duh!

I just realized you did not get a before picture of my hair! How can you get the full reality of the drastic change if you don't even know what we were working with before? 

See those roots? Take in all that frizz. ( actually, this picture doesn't give the frizz justice...) I have had so many people say that they did not recognize me after I dyed it dark. I have been "blonde" for pretty much my whole life. Although I am really a brunette. :-) It was definitely time for  a change! 

Can you say...

Evil and conspiring men!!!

We have heard all about the salmonella outbreak in the peanut butter. Not the big name brands mind you, just the Peanut Corporation of America! ( sounds big to me..) But did you know, they knew? I didn't know they knew. Who could have known? Just them.

And they sold it anyway...

Peanut butter gone bad!

What's this world coming to when you can't even enjoy a good Rits peanut butter cracker?

I just wanted to dye!

In a earlier post I showed off my skills in the cosmetology area. Wow, what a great, professional job!  I then promised you pictures of what happened behind the scenes. So here they are!

If this ever happened to you while at a salon, you would probably never go back. Good thing I am my own stylist...

(P.S. Pardon my half nakedness. We're all adults here, right?)

I don't really know how I got it up under my arms. And yes, my hands stayed that way for a few days. It was pretty funny. ;-)

Confessions of a five year old boy

For those of you who don't have any boys, here's a little taste of what it would be like. An "only a boy" moment where you aren't sure if you should laugh, or be absolutely horrified. For those of you who do have boys, feel free to laugh along in knowing. Or gag along in knowing. Your choice.

The Boy: Hey mom, guess what?

Me: what bud?

TB: Last night, when I was sneaking to the bathroom to go potty..

Me: What? Why were you sneaking to the bathroom? You can go anytime you want.

TB:  Well, I was asleep and then I woke up and I had to sneak to the bathroom. Well, when I was sneaking to the bathroom I thought the garbage was the potty.

Me: You thought the garbage was the potty? What do you mean?

TB: I thought the garbage was the potty so I started peeing in the garbage, and then I remembered the garbage wasn't the potty, so I went the rest of the way in the toilet.

Me: ( fighting back a gag) Are you saying you peed in the garbage can?

TB: Yes..

Me: When was this, last night? Awhile ago? 

TB: It was last night, no I think it was a couple days ago.

Me: Oh man, that is so gross! Why didn't you just tell me?

TB: Well, I just remembered!

On a side note, I was in the bathroom yesterday and thought it had a pretty pungent odor. This conversation explains so much. 

I have yet to brave the walk to the bathroom to solidify the story....

Idle hands are the Devil!

Lately I have been thinking that I really needed to do more activities with the kids. I keep telling The Man about how crazy they are and that they are constantly in trouble all day. Sheesh, I just can't take it!!!

The more I thought about it though, the more I realized it was because they were BORED OUT OF THEIR MINDS!!! Who could blame them for being so unruly when they had nothing to occupy their time with? I know that it is my job to fill their days and minds with constructive worthwhile activities to make sure they are learning and growing and to keep them from being Idle. I think it will also in turn keep me from being idle. (stupid internet with all your wonderful sites to see!) I would hate for my hands to become the devils playthings, or play ground..or however that saying goes.

As I was thinking of what the heck I could do, I remembered my friends blog ( Hi Clarissa!) and the place she goes for cute, fun and worthwhile activities for her kids. Its called chasing cheerios. All the activities and ideas are Montessori based and are so much fun!

 So today we are going out to get the supplies to play this game. 

I can't wait to let the kids paint the dowels and put it all together. Plus how cool is it to have your own homemade games to play together as a family? 

So go, now and check it out. Perhaps it will inspire you to spend more time with your kids and maybe we will realize that they really aren't so bad, when their minds are occupied! ;-)

I got some new hair!

Oh man that feels good! I had about five inches of grow out on the top of my head since the last time I got it highlighted. It was getting pretty sad. Plus I had a perm that was just more frizz and poof, than curl and cute. So I went to the beauty supply store last night with Little Girl and got all the necessaries:

A perm to my straighten hair ( what? true..) ......check

A dark color hair dye with absolutely no *ash* in the name of it that will cover blonde ends...check

Rubber gloves and cape to cover body........nope, totally forgot

Go ahead and do it all anyway...check

End up looking like you just got done mud wrestling when its all over....double check.

(pictures to come soon.)

It was so funny to do this on my own. You should have seen the bathroom when I was done.It looked like someone had a little trouble keeping their you know what in the toilet. ( TMI? so sorry..);-)  And since I forgot my gloves, the ends of my fingers are permanently brown. I showed The Man afterward and told him I forgot gloves. He then ever so casually mentions that he had a pair of them in the closet. "What!" I said. "Rubber ones?!!" " Yea.." he replied  in a *DUH* tone. 

And why didn't he tell me? Well, because he didn't know I needed them and like he can read minds!.  As if I ever dreamed he would own a pair of rubber gloves that I didn't know about. 

All in all it was really fun though and I feel a whole lot sexier. Rawr!! It is pretty dark, but a lot of it will wash out over the next little while. I'm hoping the same goes for my poor dirty looking digits.

Of course The Boy wants to get in on the picture action. So vain..

Left side

Right side

Top

Me!

And not a singe highlight in sight! For now anyway.

Save handmade!!

On february 10th of this year a new law named the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act will go into affect, requiring all manufacturers of children's products to get expensive third party lead testing on all items they make.

Who are these manufacturers? Well, they are the really big companies you automatically think of, and they are the little guys. The sole proprietors of small and home based businesses. They are the local artisans at your favorite craft fairs and farmers markets. They are Etsy, they are ebay, they are your family, your friends. " they" are me! 

 

Think this wont affect you? Think again!

Please take the time to read this and at the very least sign the petition. Help us save our hand made in the USA!

The Sky is Falling - CPSIA Issue
December 17th, 2008 by Daria
Article by: Heather Flottman
Owner/Designer
liliputians NYC

The sky is falling! Yes, I feel a like an overly dramatic Chicken Little. And I wish it were true considering recent congressional legislation is about to crush the life out of the handmade clothing and toy industry. I’m talking about H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) signed into law August 14, 2008, and the ramifications it will have when it goes into effect February 10, 2009 (now being popularly referred to as National Bankruptcy Day).

Make no mistake. CPSIA was necessary in principle and has noble intentions, keeping our children safe and holding companies accountable for importing toxic toys. We all demand safety for our children and this is the intent of CPSIA; specifically to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12. Unfortunately this legislation lacks common sense, is ambiguous and fails to take into account the handmade industry.

What you see is not what you get with CPSIA. There is no distinction between big, small, or even micro one-person businesses. Whether it’s a large-scale manufacturer importing apparel to be sold in big box stores, or a work-at-home mom (WAHM) selling customs on ebay, the legislation applies the same to all.

Unit testing will be required on finished products, regardless if the components are natural materials or if you have documentation from a vendor stating that buttons, for example, are certified lead-free. As it stands, H.R. 4040 fails to recognize that textile products are inherently lead-free. Why then is an organic cotton shirt being tested for lead exactly?

Unit testing is extremely cost prohibitive to small business, but worse, it is unnecessary. In fact, it is completely redundant if the components that comprise the whole have already been tested and due diligence can prove they meet the guidelines.

To put a real dollar amount to testing one of my products, I solicited a lab quote. I was told it was $75 to test for lead per garment component and each substrate. Coated or painted items such as buttons are $100. So my Little Red Riding Hood Shirt, a 100% cotton knit shirt with an appliqué made from 7 cotton fabrics and 2 buttons eyes would cost $625 to test for lead. Flammability testing is also required and is either $50 for a certificate per component stating it meets weight code or $100 for actual testing. So add another $400-$800 for a grand total of $1,025-$1425. in testing costs for a shirt that retails for $40. If the shirt is offered in another colorway, the same testing is required despite the fact that the same fabrics are used throughout.

Small manufacturers have no way of absorbing the price of such redundancy. And all manufacturers will be required to test a finished component/item from each batch. Easy to do in mass production—simply pull one sample from a lot of thousands. But how does one comply when your “batches” are made-to-order batches of one? SKUs will also be required for each product with a permanent label on the item itself.

CPSIA will be retroactive and takes a guilty-until-proven-innocent approach with extremely hefty fines for violators. As written, any product used by children 12 and under (such as toys, footwear, carpets, clothing, bedding, luggage, lamps, toys, books, magazines, baseball cards, consumer electronics, school supplies, office supplies, jewelry, housewares, sports equipment and so on) without the newly required certification would be deemed hazardous, whether the item poses an actual threat or not. So on February 10, 2009, any unsold merchandise (in big box stores, the corner boutique, your fabric stash, Good Will donations, etc.) will be deemed “hazardous goods” and illegal to sell unless 3rd party testing proves otherwise. By the way, there are only 14 said labs currently in the United States.

Think you won’t be affected?

I hope not, but the sad truth is that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) will be. Do you make children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, hair bows, accessories, furniture, artwork or anything else “intended for use by children age 12 and under”? Are you a retailer of children’s goods? Do you resell used children’s clothing or toys on ebay? Do you participate or shop at craft fairs? Do you donate used children’s items to needy organizations? Do you belong to a church that has rummage sales as a fundraiser? Does your child play sports and get their uniforms from a local screen print shop? Are you a consumer shopping for alternatives to mass-produced toys? If so, this law takes away that freedom.

Surely this legislation can be amended by incorporating some common sense and still make it possible to ensure our children’s safety without further hurting the US economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census (the last survey of its type), small U.S. clothing manufacturers (with fewer than 20 employees) contribute over $900 million dollars [consider: nearly $1 billion dollars] annually to the economy and comprise 68% of total apparel manufacturing in the U.S. This is clearly a vital and contributing asset to our economy. Multiply this fallout exponentially when you take into account the myriad other manufacturers, retailers and businesses that will be hurt or ultimately driven out of business.

So, why should you support amending this legislation?

Because the CPSIA isn’t fair and will not function as written. It inadvertently punishes American industries unrelated to toys and will ultimately result in fewer alternatives to mass produced merchandise made in China. The concept that small producers should be subject to the same rigorous standards but with lesser regulation (and common sense) has already been fought for and sustained in the food industry, which is why your local farmers market still exists. Now this same idea needs to be applied to children’s products.

What can you do?


Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC (888) 531-9070.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
CPSCE-mail Address.
Email or snail mail your representatives.
Contact Congress
Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code. Contact Representatives
Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
Change by Obama
Sign the petition.
CPSIA Petition
Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.
Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook Group
Twitter Search
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home
Join the Etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
Etsy Group
Etsy Thread

MORE INFORMATION:

Petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e...SIA/index.html
About the bill:http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/legislation.html
Read more about what's being dubbed National Bankruptcy Day here:
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

I am Pro- life

The thought of ending a life, any kind, sickens and saddens me. I definitely have my opinions on abortion, murder is murder. I feel there are certain exceptions to those opinions, and those choices aren't to be made lightly. 

I did not vote for Obama, and here is one of many big reasons why:

Dear Family and Friends,


As most of you know, last night Obama made a public announcement
that he is going to sign the Freedom Of Choice Act, which will allow
all types of abortions including partial birth abortions, also
allowing babies who are born alive due to botched up late term
abortions, to be set aside without any medical care or nourishment and
left to die (most of these babies have no medical problems and most
of the ones that do, have things like cleft palates, club feet, things
that are correctable, still they are murdered in the most cruel and
inhuman way. They feel everything that is happening to them. There is
more mercy for dogs that are put to sleep) This Bill also will make it
mandatory for doctors and nurses to perform this murderous act even if
they do not want to do so. This act also allows under age teens to
have an abortion, even partial birth abortions, without parental
consent.

Catholic Bishops have pleaded with Obama not to go ahead with this
horrible murder of innocent babies. They have also told Obama that if
he persists in signing this Bill which would require even Catholic
Hospitals to perform these acts of murder, they will have no choice
but to close all Catholic Hospitals. Please let us join with these
courageous Bishops who will go to any length to change Obama's mind.
Please take a minute to sign this statement and let our voices be
heard.

http://www.fightfoca.com/

This is a great, informative website. You can click on the video
of Obama's speech to the Planned Parenthood group where he promised
that the first thing he would do if elected President would be to sign
the Freedom Of Choice Act. He isn't even in the White Houseyet and
he made a statement last night that he will go forward with his plans
to sign this outrageous bill. He still can change his mind because
the Bill cannot be signed until he is actually the President.

Please let your family and friends know about this Bill and ask
them to also sign this petition. Even those who voted for Obama would
not want him to sign this Bill.

Please feel free to comment.

Please go and sign this petition. It takes two seconds of your time and it's literally a matter of life and death. Pass this on to as many people as you can.

a note from the "break-ee"

My blog ebbs and flows. Some months I have a lot of time and a lot of things to say, other months my life is crazy and blogging comes last. I have restructured my blog at least once, and I have recommitted to blog more at least a dozen times.  Do we see a pattern emerging here? 

I am not very good at commitment. I have always been that way. Just ask most of the guys I used to date. Nothing serious please, and if it ever began to head that way, I would pretty much freak out, start acting all weird and mean and then they would break up with me. ( pathetic? ..yes) I wasn't very good at confrontation either, so I didn't want to be the " break-er" I would rather be the " break-ee" ( wierd?.. oh yes)  Even with The Man, its a miracle we ever got married. We broke up at least three times during our 8 month courtship and even the day of our marriage I felt like a witch all day!! I wanted to be mean to everyone! ( I wasn't of course, I held it all in like a good girl!)

So taking all that into consideration, I have amazed myself this year and committed to some pretty heft new years resolutions. They mostly have to do with weight loss, so that is a big motivator in and of itself. And I have a few others I have yet to write down, which I am told, repeatedly by my husband, is oh so helpful. Those are more to do with personal flaws and spiritual growth. It feels great to take on a big task and I have made little goals along the way to help bolster up my spirits as I work toward making my "big" ones come to fruition. 

Even with all the great feelings I have now and the fun little rewards I am planning on giving myself along the way, I can't help but have little tiny doubts about my ability to see it all through. I mean, we have all read  (to my embarrassment) about my commitment patterns,or lack thereof. How am I really going to do it? Here's an old blog post that sort of sums up how I normally feel about resolutions.

How do any of you do it? What are you tips and tricks for reaching your goals? Do any of you go to commitment anonymous? maybe I should start a group...

I have actually thought about starting a separate blog with my progress and support information, but then again..thats a big commitment....